Wind plant technology innovations must identify opportunities to reduce existing and preempt future uncertainty for owner/operators via knowledge-based mapping of fundamental linkages between plant externalities, turbine-to-turbine load interaction with components, and plant internalities (material performance) as these become monitoring opportunities and new industry standards. In particular, Reliability must address the large percentage of the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) devoted to system operations and maintenance and the risk produced by the rare possibility of catastrophic failures. Condition monitoring and nondestructive testing methods contribute to early detection and resolution in conjunction with repair methods, which also are particularly relevant for long-term assessment of remaining useful wind plant life, impacted by both operator-induced action and externalities.

Focus Area Goals

Improve characterization of plant externalities

Offer new understanding of unaccounted internalities

Increase inherent reliability

Afford accurate state detection

Measure accurate damage progression and remaining useful life

Achieve optimal plant operations and maintenance

Provide actionable operation, performance, and reliability metrics

Atmosphere to Electrons is a resource of the Department of Energy's Wind Energy Technologies Office.